JungleDrums Dec2011

December 2011 No, 90

For the expats...by the expats

Look out for the baubles hidden in this month’s edition for a chance to win a lunch for two at Portico Mar Restaurant

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, La Marina, Torrevieja, La Siesta, San Luis, Quesada, Rojales, Orihuela Costa, Mar Menor

FRery M Ev

December 2011

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Inside this month’s magazine Saving the few Tigers are almost extinct; every one must count p4

The pooing man Getting to the bottom of a very curious tradition p8

Health Surviving Xmas; plus can diet cure diabetes? p10

It’s a wonderful life The facts on the most famous Christmas film p14

Gardening A plant that takes a starring role at Christmas p18

Santa, bring me a pony Should you buy a horse; plus other gift ideas p20

Skiing in Granada Sun and snow, Europe’s most southerly ski resort p24

Who do you think you were A search in the past can give rewarding results p30

Also in this issue Legal jargon made simple - in Spain - p6 Fashion - party wear for all ages - p12 Inspekta Gadget - latest crazy gadgets - p13 Food fix - party treats - p16 Spain’s best Christmas markets - p22 In Gear - Saab 9-4X - p26 Computers - Kindle part 2 - p28 Just for laughs - caption competition and jokes - p30 Crossword - p34, Horoscopes - p35

W

elcome to December’s Jungle Drums.

This month is all about Christmas so we’ve stuffed the mag full of festive goodies to get you in the mood. We can help you with what to wear, what to eat, what to buy and what to do this festive season. Plus, we’ve taken a look at some of the more unusual Spanish Christmas traditions.

Our health pages have gone all Christmassy, too, with a guide to surviving Christmas - it’s really a much more dangerous time of year than you’d think. And on our animal pages you can learn what to buy - and what not to buy - the animal lovers in your life this Christmas.

Of course, the serious issues don’t go away at Christmas so we’ve also brought you a story about an Alicante animal charity that needs your help to save two tigers and other wild animals. They really are doing fantastic work but cannot do it alone.

And, finally, as Christmas is all about families, in our nostalgia piece this month a local author shares her experiences tracing her family tree and offers readers a few tips on how they can do the same.

Oh, and there’s a competition, too. Win a lunch menu for two at Portico Mar, Moncayo, Guardamar. Available from January 15 to 30. For a chance of winning this great prize just count up all the Christmas baubles in this month’s mag. Send an email with the total to the address below.

Don’t forget, keep your stories coming in and let us know what you want to see in Jungle Drums next month.

The Editor

Have you got a story Why not share it with us, or just tell us what you think Call 966 923 796 or email office@thejungledrums.es Advertise in Jungle Drums For great rates and quality advertising Call 966 923 796 or email office@thejungledrums.es We offer a FREE design service The deadline for submitting adverts is the 21st of every month.

Disclaimer The Jungle Drums, its publishers, members of staff and its agents do not accept responsibility for claims by advertisers nor can it be held responsible for any errors in advertisements which are reproduced from poor artwork, low quality electronic data or inadequate instructions for text or other layout features. Further no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by an error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of any advertisement, although all advertisements produced are checked prior to insertion. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more than ONE incorrect insertion and that no re-publication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertisement. E&OE NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHERS. The Jungle Drums Cif B54552880

A right roaring read!

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December 2011

Endangered They may be dying out in the wild, but in captivity tigers are being condemned to death. Amanda Black found that an Alicante charity is trying to stop all that...

There are fewer than 3500 tigers left in beautiful animals, and many more like the wild, and in the past 100 years their them, the secure and comfortable future numbers have plummeted an astonishing they deserve.

95 per cent.

ROAL was set up three years ago to So it is particularly tragic when healthy deal with just this type of emergency after young tigers in captivity are condemned to the closure of Guadalest’s animal park, death.

Arca de Noé. Raúl helped find homes This was the awful fate that awaited across Europe for many of Arca de Noé’s Neo, a Siberian tiger left behind at Vergel animals, but the ones that were left faced Safari Park, Valencia, when it closed down certain death. earlier this year.

Raúl begged Alicante town hall to let him Unable to find a new home for the four- convert the old, disused municipal dog year-old, 300 kilo male tiger, his owners pound and its grounds into emergency sought permission to have him destroyed. accommodation to give him more time to Permission was granted, a deadline was search for homes. set and time ran out.

The town hall agreed and a frantic With a vet on standby to administer the fundraising and building programme saw fatal shot, Neo received a last minute the facilities ready just in time to take in two reprieve thanks to a small wild animal tigers, three lions, two pumas and a charity in Alicante number of other named ROAL. The big cats in particular animals from the Although ROAL is closed animal park. proved impossible itself struggling for The idea was to survival in the current move the animals to to rehome economic climate, new homes as soon the charity’s president and founder, Raúl as possible and keep the facility to help Merida, could not bear to see such a with future wild animal emergencies. But it magnificent and endangered animal killed. was not so simple.

“It’s a tragedy when any animal has to “We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but didn’t be destroyed,” says Raúl, a veteran animal realise quite what a struggle it would be,” welfare campaigner, “but when it is from says Raúl. The big cats, in particular, a species that is facing extinction it proved all but impossible to rehome. somehow seems all the more obscene that Things became even harder as with the animal has to die for being unwanted.” many of the animals becoming longer term Raúl and his team pledged to do every- residents than planned, demand for thing within their power to save the tiger, ROAL’s services also proved greater than plus four lions and 12 baboons that had anticipated. Requests for help flooded in, also been condemned to death when leaving the charity wondering how it would Vergel closed. cope.

The animals came to ROAL’s centre in When a court ordered a laboratory Villafranqueza, just outside Alicante, where to stop ‘cruel and pointless’ experiments they are safe – for now. that involved cutting the spinal cords of But their arrival at ROAL is only the monkeys to see if they would grow back, beginning in the fight to give these the monkeys came to ROAL. Had ROAL

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- but still ordered to die not been there they would have been destroyed.

When a parrot was illegally smuggled into Spain from the UK, it was set to be euthanised because the airport had no quarantine facility. ROAL was able to intervene and save the parrot by offering quarantine. Now ROAL provides quarantine facilities for Alicante’s airport and port authorities, meaning many animals that would previously have been killed get to live.

And, when police found a monkey on an urbanisation in Torrevieja they were able to call on ROAL. Imported illegally from Gibraltar the monkey had spent its life in a one metre by one metre sealed cage. She was fed with food pushed through the bars, and had to be cut free.

ROAL currently has more than a hundred animals in its care. Among them are lynx, monkeys, parrots, an emu, a porcupine and various reptiles.

Many have come from private owners and quite a few have, like the monkey, been smuggled into the country and kept illegally as pets.

Incredibly, people try to keep even the biggest, most dangerous animals as pets.

Max, a Bengal tiger that found his way to ROAL via Arca de Noé was kept as a pet when a cub. He was probably smuggled into Spain for the purpose.

Max was lucky to escape a death sentence as he outgrew his owners by finding a home at Arca de Noé, and doubly lucky to escape death a second time by coming to ROAL when Arca de Noé shut.

More often, wild animals kept as pets are destroyed when they become unmanageable.

Max has two legacies from his early days as a household pet: he has been declawed – making him even harder to rehome – and he likes human company, although it’s not advisable to get too close.

“He clearly wasn’t mistreated by the people who owned him,” says his keeper Juan, as Max bumps against the bars of his enclosure to demand a scratch, “but it

is still cruel and very misguided to try to keep an animal like this as a pet.”

Max’s affectionate nature does not extend to other tigers, though. And being forced to share his small enclosure with new arrival Neo has not gone down well.

Tigers are mostly solitary by nature and

There are too many tigers in captivity the enclosure is less than ideal for the two of them. But it was the only way to save Neo’s life.

ROAL’s team has spent the past three years trying to find a new home for Max, with no success. The chances of finding a home for Neo are just as slim.

Even though tigers are rare in the wild, in captivity there are too many for the number of spaces available. And with the financial crisis causing more zoos and wildlife parks to close, the problem can only get worse.

While there is much talk about breeding programmes and repatriation, these projects have limited success. For tigers such as Max and Neo repatriation would not be an option even if the logistics and expenses could be met. Neither animal would be equipped to return to the wild.

The only real possibility of a future for the two tigers, plus the lions and other animals that cannot be rehomed, is if ROAL can extend its facilities to provide them with the space they need.

Alicante town hall has already made more land available, but now ROAL has to raise the money to give Max, Neo and the other animals a future.

It won’t be easy, the charity has already seen donations drop dramatically since the beginning of the financial crisis. However, Raúl and his team remain optimistic that people will help because they will care about the future of two tigers, seven lions, two pumas and all the other misplaced and mistreated wild animals in ROAL’s care.

Happy endings Four bears, three male and a female, probably born into the wild, were captured and used as a circus attraction. The circus abandoned the bears in Galicia and they were taken to Arca de Noé. But all four were traumatised by their years in captivity.

One was completely blind and fearful in his new surroundings. In time, the bears began to recover from the years of abuse they had suffered. But then, Arca de Noé closed and the bears lives were in danger. They would have to be destroyed.

Fortunately ROAL, with the help of a Dutch NGO, managed to rehome the bears. They now live in Rhenen, a protected forest close to Amsterdam.

Not so happy Spanish police unhappy with conditions of a tiger cub at a circus checked paperwork and found the circus owners did not have the correct licences for the tiger. They seized the two-month-old cub and took it to ROAL for care.

The tiger was almost blind from flash photography and malnourished as the circus had kept her underfed to stop her growing too quickly and becoming too big to pass around for photos. ROAL’s staff cared for the traumatised tiger, Kia, and she gradually grew in confidence and started to gain weight.

Then the authorities dropped a bombshell. The circus had applied for the paperwork and they had to give the tiger back. ROAL fought the ruling but could not save the tiger cub. They considered raising money to buy her from her tormentors, but knew that if they did this the circus would simply get another. All ROAL can do now is campaign against the mistreatment of animals in circuses and urge people never to visit a circus that uses animals.

Up to you Max and Neo are safe at ROAL for now – but their living conditions are less than ideal. ROAL was designed to provide emergency accommodation, but as Max and Neo have nowhere else to go they urgently need more space. You can help Max, Neo and the other animals in ROAL’s care by helping to raise money to extend the facilities.

ROAL is not open to the public but private visits are arranged for groups or individuals interested in the work.

For more details on ROAL’s work visit fundacionraulmerida.es or in English see the section on ROAL at www.brigadaazul.com.

Email bluebrigade@fun dacionraulmerida.es for details or if interested in visiting ROAL.

email: office@thejungledrums.es

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December 2011

Legal Jargon

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I.A.E (Actividad Económica) – an annual, local business tax levied on companies and businesses with a turnover in excess of €1.000.000.

Am I liable to Spanish tax?

1.Main types of business Wealth tax (Patrimonio) – low rates ranging from 0.2% to If you spend more than 183 days in Spain you are automatically considered tax declarations to applied Hacienda.

The penalties for ignoring obligations Self-employed – known as “autónomos”, registration has to be made 2.5% in bands to the individual’s total wealth inand exresident here. having uncontracted staff can be harsh. with Hacienda (the Spanish tax authority) and the Social Security. Most cess of €700,000. Your total wealth includes property, Do I have to submit tax returns?

3.Cash planning autónomos have to present quarterly IVA returns (Spanish sales tax) bank deposits, professional activities, luxury assets, etc.

Apart from employees in very specific circumstances (and with an income below and an annual income tax return (Renta). Other returns and declaraA new business always more money than you&think until it beProperty taxesneeds (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles.) certain levels) and freelance “autónomos” with very low incomes, if you’re resicomes self-financing.

Prepare a detailed cash budget for at least tions will frequently be applicable on a quarterly or annual basis, ac– levied on property owned by non-residents and on sec-the dent for tax you have an obligation to file an annual income tax return (Renta). If first 6 months and remember that credit sales mean nothing colcording to circumstances. ond properties belonging to residents.

There is alsountil a local you are a non-resident property owner in Spain, you are obligated to do the nonlected - while they remain unpaid you’ll need another source of income Limited Company – several types exist but the commonest form is the tax (Contribución Urbana) levied on all residents main resiresident tax, which is also annual, and is due before the 31st of December each to financedence your outgoings.

“Sociedad Limitada” or S.L. that can be set up with a minimum capital and based on the official value (“valor catastral”). year.

4.Choosing an Asesoría of €3,006. Though important in protecting the owner(s) from personal liCapital Gains - included with the income tax return and How does income tax work?

There aretaxed thousands of “asesorias” in Spain (they However, handle all itadministraability in the event of bankruptcy, its incorporation does imply a number from 2010 at a flat rate of 19-20%. can All employees have a retention (I.R.P.F.) made from their monthly pay by their of additional tax, accounting and mercantile obligations. In addition, in tive and bureaucratic red tape), all offering much the same service. employer, and businesses must retain some tax from a self-employed person’s in- be complex to calculate, being dependant on the type of These areasset, not tolength be confused with “gestorias”, who aretax onlystatus meant to recent years the authorities are taking much closer interest in who/what of time held and the individual’s voice. These retentions are a down payment of the annual tax bill and the resultdeal with and administration from the Departamento de Jefatura de Tráfico, is behind the company to ensure that it has a legitimate purpose and is circumstances. ing over- or underpayment will be declared and settled in the annual return filed (equivalent of UK´s DVLA).

However, be careful in choosing the not fraudulent. Now the shareholders need to apply for a NIE and the Inheritance and gift tax (Impuesto de Sucesiones y right between May and June each year. one because not all give- regional good advice and most do beneficiaries not speak foreign "administrador", or company representative, will have to prove having Donaciones) tax levied on the of How does IVA work? an address in Spain. For an EU passport holder this can be achieved languages, which frequently leads to misunderstandings and uncertainassets in excess of around €16,000 and even non-resident As in the UK and most European countries, a sales tax is added to the price of alties. Most want to sign you up for a monthly fee, providing a service that without undue difficulty though adding to costs and the time required for most all goods and services. The final consumer bears this unless it’s a registered beneficiaries are liable when the assets or rights are lomay be unnecessary, plying a foreigner’s of region experience and completion. Without an EU passport the proceedure becomes more cated in Spain.

Tax on rates vary widelylack from to region business that can offset the tax against the IVA it has invoiced to its own cusknowledge about procedures and obligations in Spain. complicated. and exceptions apply for a spouse, child or parent. tomers. The basic rate on almost everything is 18% though reduced rates of 8% 5. FinallyTransfer tax and stamp duty (Impuesto de Transmi2.Employees and staff and 4% also apply to certain products, and a few specific services are exempt.

Talk to ussiones to get good, independent advice.toWe’ll explain what sort Hiring employees involves a lot of paperwork (work contract, registraPatrimoniales) - applies certain real estate andof Is it tax advantageous to set up a company? business commercial entity you really need to set up and what to do about taxation, tion, social security, tax retentions, payslips and annual certificates etc) transactions, such as the incorporation of a This will depend on the individual’s tax situation. From 2009 a company pays payrolls and bookkeeping.

Our rate advice is always practical and we offer and business social security contributions are extremely expensive. Allimited company. The starts at 0.5% (for commercial Company Tax (Impuesto Sociedades) at a basic rate of 25%, though the first value-for-money solutions accounting, tax and legal problems ternatively, hiring a freelancer may be cheaper but it also supposes ceractivities) rising toto6% (for real estate transactions) and so is that €120.000 is subject to a reduced rate of 20%. Taxable income is calculated after you can concentrate on running the business. tain obligations on the business as regards tax retentions and paid by the buyer or the beneficiary of the transaction. deducting relevant business expenses and specific tax breaks from the company’s income.

CALENDARIO FISCAL PARA SOCIEDADES (FISCAL CALENDER FOR COMPANIES)

January Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for company tax for previous (4th) quarter (Oct-Dec) Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for IVA for previous quarter (Oct-Dec) Presentation to Tax Office of previous year’s Annual Company Tax March 31st : Take 1st quarter (Jan-Mar) invoices to assesoria April From 4th April to 27th June : application for automated tax returns Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for company tax for 1st quarter (Jan-Mar) Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for IVA for 1st quarter (Jan-Mar) During April and May : Annual car tax (via SUMA) May From 3rd May to 30th June : Annual Tax Declarations June Until 27th June : deadline for Tax Declaration (if results are not in your favour) Until 30th June : deadline for Tax Declaration (if results are in your favour) 31st : Take 2nd quarter (Apr-Jun) invoices to assesoria July Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for company tax for 2nd quarter (Apr-Jun) Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for IVA for 2nd quarter (AprJun) September From 1st Sept. to 6 Oct. : Property tax rates (I.B.I.)

31st : Take 3rd quarter (Jul-Sept) invoices to assesoria October Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for company tax for 3rd quarter (Jul-Sept) Up to the 20th : Payment deadline for IVA for 3rd quarter (JulSept) December Preparation of Annual Company Taxes, ready for January 31st : Take 4th quarter (Oct-Dec) invoices to assesoria

Identity numbers NIE (Número de Identidad Extranjera): This is your identification number in Spain, though for non-EU citizens having one gives NO rights as to residency and entitlement to work. It’s needed to file taxes, purchase a car, set up a business and for just about any formal, official red tape.

DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad): This is the ID number for Spanish citizens.

NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal): This is the tax ID number for all individuals. For Spaniards, it's the DNI plus one letter; for foreigners, it's the same number as your NIE. CIF (Certificado de Indentifición Fiscal): This is the tax number for limited companies as issued by Hacienda as part of the incorporation process and is equivalent to the UK's Vat number. From 2012 most businesses will also need to apply for an EU tax number, essential for most EU transactions.

Número de Seguridad Social: Your employer applies for this social security number when you start your first job in Spain. This number then stays with you for all subsequent jobs. If you’re selfemployed, you apply for this number your self.

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December 2011

CHRISTMAS SPAIN Spain’s curiousTRADITIONS Xmas customs IN revealed Getting to the bottom of the pooing man, the fat one and red undies

Yule Logs An important Christmas tradition in Spain is the belén, or nativity scene. Models of the birth of Christ can be found in just about every town and village, as well as in the homes of many Spaniard’s.

All the usual suspects are present in these scenes– Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, the Wise Men… But Spanish nativity scenes also include a rather unusual addition to the cast of characters – a pooing man.

Yes, the Spanish like to include the figure

Rajoy and Rubalcaba

of a man having a poo at the birth of Christ, and nobody seems to be exactly sure why.

Search through any belén you see this Christmas and you will almost certainly find, somewhere in the scene, the figure of a squatting man, trousers around his ankles doing a download. He’s not usually too close to the manger itself, he has some respect.

The pooing man, or caganer as he is called, seems to hail from Catalonia. Originally he wore traditional Catalan garb but now comes in all guises.

Caganers are made to resemble celebrities, political and cultural figures, nuns and even the Pope.

More often, though, the caganer is an anonymous figure.

There are reports of the caganer as far back as the 1500s and there are many theories about why a pooing man should be present at the nativity.

Some say it is to make the spiritual story of the birth of Jesus more real and less idealised. The Spanish beléns do not focus solely on the birth of Jesus but also depict the lifestyle of

The oldest and the fattest

2

The Spanish as a nation are lottery mad.

Ticket sellers ply their trade on street corners and in bars, while kiosks, shops and the internet do a brisk trade in lottery sales.

But there is one lottery above all others that the Spanish are the most crazy for – El Gordo (The Fat One).

Held every year at Christmas, more than 90 per cent of Spanish adults are thought regularly to buy tickets for El Gordo. This creates a prize pool in the billions – making it the biggest lottery in the world. It is also the oldest, with the first Spanish Christmas lottery dating back to 1812.

This year’s prize pot is €2,520,000,000.

With so much money up for grabs, the chances of winning something are thought to be around 15%.

At around 200 euros a pop, the tickets

aren’t cheap. You don’t have to buy a whole ticket though as they are sold in decimos, or tenths. If you buy one decimo and your ticket wins, you get a tenth of the prize money for that ticket.

Because of the phenomenal number of tickets sold, and because the tickets only have five digit numbers, there are quite a few winning tickets. One year, for example, there were 180 first prize winners – each taking three million euros. A decimo of a winning ticket would still be worth €300,000.

It is quite common for groups of people to get together to buy a whole ticket. You will see signs in bars proclaiming Jugamos con el numero... (We are playing with the number…), inviting you to purchase a share.

This communal gambling can see whole villages or groups of workers suddenly wealthy. In 2005, the town of Vic, north of Barcelona, shared 500 million euros amongst its inhabitants. You’d probably want to move if you were one of the ones who didn’t buy a share in the tickets.

A few years back in a village closer to home, here on the Costa Blanca, a local builder bought tickets for his workers to share in, as is common practice. When none of the workers wanted to buy in, he cursed his bad luck at having got stuck with spending so much money – until he

the time. Many beléns have detailed miniature houses, equipped with food and animals. So, why shouldn’t there be a man pooing in a corner? The bottom line is that even during Jesus’s time people had to poo.

Another theory is that the caganer is fertilizing the ground and that this little symbol brings good luck and healthy crops in the coming year. Buying a caganer to place in your nativity scene is thought to bring luck.

Whatever his origin, finding the caganer has become something of a seasonal game, and you often have to look very hard to discover the little squatting figure. But keep looking, he will be there.

won a fortune and didn’t have to share!

One word of warning – don’t try to watch the draw on TV or listen to it on Spanish radio. Every December 22, the draw is broadcast live from Madrid – for five hours.

Children from the San ldefonso Orphanage draw out wooden balls and sing the numbers.

If you do watch it all you are unlikely to get the sound of children’s voices droning numbers out of your head before El Niño, the second largest draw of the year, on January 6.

Tickets for El Gordo go on sale in the summer – to catch the tourist trade – and can be bought up until 5pm on December 21.

Indications are that this year, despite, or perhaps because of the crisis, ticket sales will be up.

Red undies

8 PAGE

for luck

In the run up to New Yea r, the shops of red unde will be full rwe wear racy re ar as it is a Spanish tr adition to d undies to see in the N It is though ew Year. t to date ba ck to the M when red cl iddle Ages othing was banned be colour was cause the linked to th e devil and But many witchcraft. people tho symbol of lif ught red was the e so got rou nd red under their clothe the ban by wearing s. Now, w undies on N earing red ew Year’s E ve is said to The underw bring luck. ear has to be new, so doesn’t bri ng good lu even if it ck to the wea certainly e rer it will nsure und erwear selle year off to a rs get the good start.

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December 2011

Surviving Christmas Stress is one of the biggest killers and Christmas one of the most stressful times of year, so it’s important to learn to relax and enjoy the festive season...

The cost, the shopping, the frantic preparations, the anticipation, the desire for everything to be perfect, and very often a sense of let-down and disappointment on the day can leave nerves frazzled and stress levels off the scale at Christmas.

It is easy to get things out of proportion at this time of year and give far more significance to small problems than we would normally.

With Christmas coming but once a year, we want it to be perfect. We plan, we imagine how lovely it will be to have all the family together, we envisage everyone happily sitting down to the ideal dinner – and then it all goes wrong.

Family members argue, teenagers take to their rooms, the dinner’s not ready on time, the turkey isn’t cooked and the potatoes won’t crisp.

But why are we so surprised each year. We should know by now that things are never perfect – not at any time of year. The secret to a stressfree Christmas, just like a stress-free life, is to learn to relax and take things as they come.

There is another reason our expectations for Christmas are so high. At this time of year we can’t help but look back over past Christmases and remember things as better, more fun and more exciting than now, espeicially in childhood.

Beware Christmas accidents • Every year at least three people break their arm pulling Christmas crackers.

• Failing to remove pins in new shirts leads to over 200 people being admitted to hospital.

Whether they really were or not is not important, it is how we remember them that matters.

We then want to recreate that remembered childhood joy and excitement, and when we can’t we feel disappointment and stress.

The pressure to be happy also comes from a feeling that everyone else is having a wonderful time. Other people love Christmas, don’t they, so what is wrong with us?

It is especially hard for people who have suffered a recent bereavement or are alone at Christmas. Feeling that everyone else is happy and that you should be, too, can make Christmas particularly hard.

And then, like at any marker time – Christmas, birthdays, New Year – there is a tendency to feel a heightened sense of the passing of time. You cannot believe how quickly the year has gone since the last Christmas. Was the Christmas you went to visit Santa in Alicante with your youngest grandchild really six years ago! This can add a depressing undertone to the occasion.

To survive Christmas you need to keep in mind that it is supposed to be fun. Don’t worry if things are not perfect; relax and make the best of things as they are. Don’t idealise past Christmases, just take this one as it comes.

• Over the past ten years 27 people have died testing batteries on their tongue.

• A numer of people have died eating decorations they thought were chocolates.

• People have died watering Christmas trees

Guide to avoiding holiday stress 1. Plan the festive season well in advance - especially the cooking.

2. Make a list of gifts you want to buy, and get the satisfaction of ticking them off as you go. Don't get carried away with spending.

3. If you hate the bustle and queuing, try shopping online.

4. Make some time for yourself over the holiday. Read a book you've been meaning to read for a long time.

5. Concentrate on the good things in your life, instead of the 'not so good'.

6. If you're feeling lonely, make a phone call to a friend or even the Samaritans, who are on call in Spain 8pm to midnight 365 days a year on 902 88 35 35.

7. With the pressure to spend, remember that the best things in life are free – being with family, the smell of a log fire, a walk on the beach on Christmas morning.

8. Enjoy spending time with your family – don’t worry if they argue.

9. Don't worry that everyone else is having a better time than you are. The chances are they're not!

10. Don’t expect everything to be perfect – it won’t be. with the fairy lights left plugged in.

• People have sustained burns when trying on a new sweater with a cigarette in their mouth.

• People have suffered third degree burns when trying to flame torch Christmas pudding.

Home Remedies Oranges: Fighting against the flu

Orange is rich in Vitamin C, and besides making a refreshing drink, it has long been used as a home treatment for flu. One medium size orange peeled and eaten as it is, or juiced will provide you with about 80 per cent of your daily Vitamin C needs.

And Vitamin C is one essential ally in the fight against flu infection.

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Can losing weight cure diabetes?

A study this summer found that Type 2 diabetes can be cured through diet. Amanda Black asked local GP Dr Najma Hussain what she thought of the findings, and what help is available on the Costa Blanca for people with diabetes…

It has long been believed that a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes is for life, and that the disease is likely to get progressively worse over time.

However, researchers from Newcastle University are turning this theory on its head and claim to have proved that Type 2 diabetes can be cured with diet alone.

Scientists at Newcastle put a group of 14 volunteers with Type 2 diabetes and a BMI in the obese category of over 30 on a strict calorie controlled diet of just 600 calories a day for eight weeks.

Eleven lasted the course, losing an average of 2st 5lb, with BMI down to 29, overweight rather than obese. After a week their blood levels had returned to normal, and by the end of eight weeks their diabetes had disappeared.

Study leader, Professor Roy Taylor, claims that technically this counts as a cure – although he stresses it is no easy fix and a huge amount of willpower is required to achieve the weight loss.

Why does weight loss make a difference to Type 2 diabetes? When we lose weight fat cells in the pancreas are among the first to disappear. The pancreas is where insulin is made and it is the body’s inability to make enough insulin and process it correctly that causes Type 2 diabetes.

Using MRI scans, the Newcastle study showed that as fat levels in the pancreas fell, insulin production restarted. The volunteers also displayed less insulin resistance (where the body is less sensitive to insulin). It was as if the fat was blocking the insulin production. Without fat insulin production was able to get back to normal.

Is this the answer for everyone with Type 2 diabetes? Well, it seems to offer hope, but Medcare’s Dr Najma Hussain advises caution:

“The Newcastle volunteers were subjected to an extreme diet – effectively they were starving themselves. They did this under close medical supervision. Doing this alone could be dangerous.”

And, Dr Hussain warns that extreme weight loss can lead to yo-yo dieting. Studies have shown that 83% of those who lose weight rapidly within six months will be heavier than they started two years later. In the case of diabetics, the diabetes would simply return.

Of the 11 volunteers completing the study, most regained a bit of weight after they returned to a normal diet. After three months, seven of them remained diabetes free, while the other four were just into the diabetes category.

Professor Taylor says it is not yet clear how much weight people can put back on while still remaining diabetes free.

Dr Hussain advises a much slower, more controlled weight loss.

“It is not only healthier but easier to sustain,” she says.

While the study’s dramatic results were gained through extreme dieting and rapid weight loss, there is evidence that a slower approach could achieve the same effect.

Professor Taylor agrees the speed of dieting is probably not the key and says that one woman (who was not part of his study) took nine months to lose two stone by dieting and her diabetes disappeared. So a steady weight loss could, in theory, also lead to a reversal of Type 2 diabetes.

“As long as the dieting is sensible and medical advice is sought, then losing weight if you are overweight or obese is always a good thing,” says Dr Hussain. “And it can have a real impact on diabetes. I have had personal experience of patients who have lost significant weight and

reversed their diabetes. Even if it does not lead to a complete reversal of the condition, a healthy diet and weight loss can only improve health.”

The jury is still out on the best type of diet for people with diabetes. Some advocate a low fat diet, while others have found a low carbohydrate, low Glycaemic Index diet is best.

Professor Taylor does not think it is important and believes that it is the weight loss itself that makes the difference.

For Dr Hussain the main criterion is that the diet is healthy and well-balanced. But with so many different diets being advocated and changes in food guidelines seeming to take place almost daily, it is not easy for many people to know what a healthy, well-balanced diet is.

And for people having to consider medical conditions such as diabetes, finding the right diet becomes doubly difficult.

It is for just such reasons that Medcare offers a free advice club for people with diabetes.

“It can be a difficult disease to live with,” says Dr Hussain, “and people very often need support. Sometimes that is medical support, but sometimes it is just being able to talk to someone who understands, or swapping experiences with people in the same position.”

Regular meetings are run by a specialist diabetes nurse in Medcare’s clinics in Benijofar and Alfaz del Pi and members can get help and advice on all aspects of coping with diabetes, including nutritional advice.

Visiting experts often attend the club to keep members up to date on all the latest news and research regarding diabetes – research such as the Newcastle study on diet.

“I don’t know that we can at this stage realistically say that diet is a cure for diabetes,” says Dr Hussain, “The study involves only a

small patient group and it is difficult to extrapolate firm conclusions, however the results are encouraging.”

Dr Hussain works for Medcare, a British-run GP practice on the Costa Blanca, and is registered with the UK General Medical Council as well as the Spanish authorities.

Details of all Medcare’s services can be found at www.medcarespain.com or call 96 686 0258.

Home Remedies Tomatoes: The super fruit

The tomato is truly an amazing fruit. It is known to have many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowering high blood pressure, and guarding against cancer.Tomatoes are also great if you have bloodshot eyes, just eat one or two in the morning on a empty stomach.To help cure eczema drink a glass of tomato juice every day.

email: office@thejungledrums.es

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Mango 35.95€

Zara 19.95€

Mango 49.95€

Zara 35.95€

Mango 39.95€

Bershka 15.99€

Zara 59.95€

Bershka 17.99€

asos.com 58.70€

Blanco 25.99€

Zara 29.95€

Blanco 19.99€

Bershka 25.99€

The Jungle Drums December 2011

Christmas Party Outfits

20 - 30 years old

30 - 40 years old

40 + years old

The Jungle Drums

December 2011

This MONTH INSPEKTA GADGET HAS FOUND THE BEST CHRISTMAS GADGETS FOR HIM AND HER!

His and her ROBOTIC ARM The Robotic Arm kit arrives disassembled and contains all the pieces you'll need to make your very own desktop droid.

It's remarkably easy to set up so you don't need to stress about soldering or advanced electronic engineering.

Once it's finished you'll have hours of fun finding out exactly what it can and can't do, using its controller to power the five joints and motors to swing the arm around and pick things up with its pincer like grippers. 50.00€ yoquierounodeesos.com

beer machine In the past homebrew was never quite drinkable but thanks to some brilliant Canadians inventing the Brew Master Beer Machine home brewed beer is now dangerously good and easy to make. The Beer Machine is simplicity itself to use, just add the beer mixture (made from 100% natural ingredients), and in seven to ten days you'll have 17 pints of really excellent beer. 129.00€ yoquierounodeesos.com

FRIDGE MAGNET BOTTLE OPENER Check out this cracking new bottle opener.

Made from the now-obligatory stainless steel, it sticks like a limpet directly onto the fridge door. Which, you will have noted, is just where you want it. Using one hand only, extract bottle from fridge and with deft flick of wrist, the top is off. Satisfying glugging immediately ensues 25.00€ yoquierounodeesos.com

laser show yoquierounodeesos.com If you're the sort of person that likes to stage their own concert indoors with the minimum of fuss, then the Laser Theatre is for you. It is frankly, an astounding piece of kit that allows you to create an extremely professional-looking laser light show that's so big it could be projected onto the side of your house. 110.00€

My life story A 100 year diary for you to record the events of a lifetime. It will help you to remember the special moments you will never want to forget... the people you have loved, the friends you have made, the places where you have lived and those you have travelled to. You can record your achievements as well as your skills, make a note of favourite films/books/music/people and write down all your ambitions and things you want to do before you die. A map of the world and one of your body is included and can be filled in as you choose. Every year you can write about what important things are happening in your life and include photos and memorabilia for just 29.50€ yoquierounodeesos.com

Rose bath buds Scatter some Rose Bath Buds in a deep, warm bath. These wafer-thin, rose-scented soap petals melt rather than wilt and smell even better than the real thing. Blooming marvellous! A romantic and thoughtful present for anyone who loves a relaxing soak at the end of a long day. 9.00€ yoquierounodeesos.com

diamond mouse It’s time to jettison that humourless and corporate-grey mouse of yours and get some sparkle onto your desktop. Studded with a panoply of glittering fake diamonds, the Diamante Mouse is a dazzlingly different and sparklingly superior computer mouse for people wanting to be lifted from the drudgery of normal workstations. 39.00€ yoquierounodeesos.com

Diamond ring mug Can't afford a diamond ring? Bring a little bit of class to your tea break with this diamond ring handled mug! Or are you looking to propose in a original way? Whatever the reason its just a great excuse for a cuppa with a bit of class!

20.00€ yoquierounodeesos.com

email: office@thejungledrums.es

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The Jungle Drums

December 2011

It’s A Wonderful Life

The most famous Christmas film ever

T

his 1946 classic is one of the most heartwarming films ever made and it is a perfect film for Christmas.

Director Frank Capra regarded this film as his own personal favourite, and it was also actor James Stewart’s favourite of all his films.

Even though it is so well-loved today, when it was released It’s A Wonderful Life was something of a flop at the box-office. In fact, the film may well have sunk into obscurity if it had not been for a lapse in copyright in the 1970s that meant the film could be screened without charge by TV companies everywhere.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to grab some free broadcasting, TV stations on both sides of the pond began showing the film every Christmas, and audiences loved it. Before long, watching Frank Capra’s enchanting film on telly

became as much a part of a traditional Christmas as chestnuts and roast turkey.

The original story, The Greatest Gift, was written by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1939. After being unsuccessful in getting the story published, he decided to make it into a Christmas card, and mailed 200 copies to family and friends in December 1943.

The card made its way to Cary Grant’s Hollywood agent and in 1944 RKO Pictures bought the rights to the story for $10,000, hoping to turn the story into a film for Grant. After three unsatisfactory scripts, the project was shelved.

RKO studio chief Charles Koerner suggested the film to Frank Capra, who immediately saw its potential. He bought the rights from RKO for his own production company, Liberty Films.

It’s A Wonderful Life is a dark, bittersweet tale of a savings-and-loans manager, George Bailey (James Stewart), who struggles against a greedy banker and his own self-doubting nature in a small town.

On the verge of bankruptcy and prison, Bailey decides to end it all, but is saved by an endearing trainee angel called Clarence (Henry Travers). To convince him of his worth, Clarence shows Bailey what the world would be like without him.

Only then does Bailey realise what a wonderful life he has.

The town of Seneca Falls, New York claims to be the real-life setting for It’s A Wonderful Life.

Capra visited

the town in 1945 and townsfolk say he modelled Bedford Falls in the film on Seneca Falls. The town has an annual It’s A Wonderful Life festival in December, is home to a Hotel Clarence and has a museum dedicated to the film.

If you’ve never seen It’s A Wonderful Life, make sure you rent it this Christmas. If you’ve seen it a hundred times, why not watch it again.

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December 2011

It’s not just Christmas Day that’s a time for feasting, the whole festive season offers the pefect excuse to serve up some fancy party food. Try our tasty selection of sweet and savoury treats to get the partying started...

Smoked Salmon Blinis

Ingredients

1.To make the dressing, combine the soured cream, dill and Dijon, and season to taste. Set aside in the fridge until needed.

Warm the blinis according to the packet instructions and allow to cool.

2.Top each blini with a little of the soured cream mix, a slice of smoked salmon and a little black pepper. Top with a sprig of dill and serve with the rocket leaves and lemon wedges to squeeze over.

Gingerbread Stars Ingredients 150g butter, softened 115g caster sugar 3 tblsp honey 1 egg 340 g plain flour 1⁄2 tspbaking powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger Glace icing: 185g icing sugar 1⁄2 tsp softened butter 2–21⁄2 tblsp boiling water Royal icing: 1 egg white 185g icing sugar

1⁄2–1 tsplemon juice You will also need: 7 cm star-shaped cookie cutter Piping bag with small 2 mm plain nozzle (or use a small plastic bag and snip off a small corner)

24 blinis from 2 x 135g packs Cavka cocktail blinis (freeze any left over) 200g (8oz) pack sliced smoked salmon 100g (4oz) pack rocket

Lemon wedges and dill sprigs, to serve For the dressing: 142ml pot soured cream 2tbsp chopped fresh dill 1tbsp Dijon mustard

1.Cream the butter, sugar and honey in a large bowl using electric beaters until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well.

Sift in the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and ginger. Stir until the mixture comes together to form a ball. Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead until smooth.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2.Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

3.Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 2mm thick. Cut the dough into star shapes with the cookie cutter, rerolling any dough scraps and cutting out more stars. Place on the prepared trays, leaving room for a little spreading, and bake for 6 minutes, or until lightly

browned. Allow to cool on the trays for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4.To make the glacé icing, combine the icing sugar, butter and boiling water in a small heatproof bowl and mix to a smooth paste. Place the bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water and stir until warm and the consistency of whipping cream. Do not overheat. Dip the top of each star into the icing and allow the excess to drip off. Leave on a wire rack to set.

5.To make the royal icing, lightly whisk the egg white in a small bowl until just foamy. Gradually whisk in enough icing sugar and lemon juice to form a smooth icing that holds its shape. Spoon the icing into the piping bag and pipe decorations onto the stars. Allow to set.

Parsnips Crisps with Sea Salt Ingredients 3 large parsnips, scrubbed clean Vegetable or corn oil for deep-frying 2tsp sea salt

1.Top and tail the parsnips, leaving the skin on, unless it's very brown. Using a sharp mandolin (the Japanese ones are the best), slice the parsnips lengthways as thinly as possible, then dry the strips with a clean tea towel. If you don't possess a mandolin, use a swivel vegetable peeler instead.

2.Heat about an 8cm depth of vegetable oil in a deep-fat fryer or heavy-based saucepan to 180ºC. Deep-fry the parsnip slices in the hot fat, a handful at a time, stirring occasionally to ensure that they don't stick together, for about 2-3 mins until they colour.

3.As soon as they are ready, remove the parsnip crisps with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.

4.Immediately season generously with the sea salt, crushing it in your fingertips as you sprinkle it on. The parsnips may appear soft as you remove them from the oil, but once drained they will dry out and crisp up. Serve as soon as they are all cooked.

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Chocolate-filled meringues 1.Preheat the oven to 140°C/275°F/Gas Mark 1.

Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.

2.In a very clean dry bowl, using an electric whisk, beat the egg whites with the vanilla extract, cream of tartar and the white wine vinegar until they form stiff peaks.

3.Add the sugar, a spoonful at a time, until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Gently fold in the cocoa powder.

4.Using a piping bag and nozzle or a small spoon, shape the meringue on the prepared sheets. Place the trays in the lower part of the oven and bake for about 1 hour. The meringues are done when they will peel easily off the paper

and feel firm to the touch on the underside.

5.Once the meringues are cooked turn the oven off and open the door slightly, and let the chocolate meringue cool completely. This will ensure they dry out.

6.The meringues can now be stored in an airtight container until ready to fill.

7.To make the sauce, melt the chocolate, chocolate milk and single cream gently in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and gradually beat until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Leave to cool and thicken. To serve, make a 'sandwich' using two meringues and the chocolate sauce as the filling.

Orange and cinnamon mince pies

Ingredients 6 egg whites ½ tsp vanilla extract ¼ tsp cream of tartar 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 300g caster sugar 1 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted 100g dark chocolate, broken 100ml chocolate milk 2 tbsp single cream

Christmas snowball truffles Ingredients

Ingredients

200g milk chocolate 2 tbsp golden syrup 3 tbsp double cream 50g cake crumbs 5 tbsp icing sugar Edible glitter or tiny stars to decorate

375g shortcrust pastry 250g good quality mincemeat 50g plain flour 4 tbsp demerara sugar 40g butter finely grated zest of ½ orange 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1.Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas Mark 6.

2.Thinly roll out the pastry and using a 7.5-9cm pastry cutter, cut out as many disks as you can, re-rolling the trimmings as you go.

Press the disks into the holes of one or two 12 hole patty tins.

3.Spoon a couple of teaspoons of mincemeat into each pastry case and set aside.

4.To make the crumble topping, rub together the flour, demerara sugar, butter, orange zest and cinnamon until you have a chunky crumble mixture. Scatter over the top of the mincemeat and place in the oven for around 15 minutes or until the mince pies are golden and the tops are crisp.

5.Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes before taking out of the tins. Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar to serve.

Conchi Belmonte Last month Conchi shared some traditional Murcian country recipes with us. They proved so popular we persuaded her to share another...

1.Break the chocolate and place in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Leave until melted, add the golden syrup and stir until smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan.

2.Stir in the cream and cake crumbs and mix well. Put in the fridge for about 1-2 hours until the mixture is stiff enough to handle.

3.To make into truffles, scoop out about 1 heaped teaspoon of the mixture and roll into a ball. Place on a plate and repeat until you have about 20 truffles.

4.Put your chosen finish into a teacup, then toss each truffle to coat evenly and carefully lift out into a paper cases. Return to the refrigerator to chill.

5.Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Ingredients 1 onion 2 cloves of garlic 1 tomato paprika

1 litre of water 250 grams lentils 1 potato chopped pumpkin

3 chard leaves salt saffron or colour olive oil

Heat the oil in a pan, when hot, throw in the chopped onion and cook until browned.

Mince the garlic and add. Grate tomato and add.

When the tomato is cooked well add the paprika and water.

Once the water has boiled add the lentils and boil for 30 mintues. Add the chopped potatoes, pumpkin chard leaves, salt and saffron to taste.

Leave to simmer for another 30 mintues then serve.

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The Jungle Drums

December 2011

The star of Christmas The poinsettia, with its vivid red leaves, is a perfect centre piece for any festive decoration. But where did this most famous Christmas plant come from? We found out more‌

P

History of the Poinsettia

oinsettias are almost as much a part of the festive season as Christmas trees, presents, Santa and cake. But few people know much about the origin of this lovely rich red and green plant.

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are native to Mexico, where it is known as the flower of the Holy Night.

The Aztecs cultivated the poinsettia long before Europeans came to the Western Hemisphere. It was cultivated in Oaxatcpec, which is now the Mexican state Morelos.

The poinsettia was prized by Kings Netzahualcyotl and Montezuma and its indigenous name was Cuetlaxochitl. The Aztecs used the bracts for a reddish-purple dye and the latex to counteract fever. The plant also played a part

in midwinter celebrations representing purity and blood sacrifices. It was widely planted in gardens.

During the 17th century Franciscan priests near Taxco observed the plant blooming at Christmas time. They incorporated the plant into the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre nativity procession. They used the concept of blood sacrifices from Aztec tradition to have the poinsettia represent the blood of Christ to Joel Roberts Poinsett Catholics and Christians.

The plant was brought to the United States by physician, statesman and botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett upon his return as American Ambassador to Mexico in 1828. Poinsett cultivated the Aztec plants in his South Carolina greenhouse.

Active breeding of the poinsettia began in the 1950s in an effort to develop cultivars that would retain their leaves and bracts for a longer period. Early breeding efforts included those of Mikkelsen of Ohio (Mikkelsen series), the Heggs of Norway

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(Hegg series), the Ecke family (Eckespoint series). The Fischer family, a German breeder, has also contributed many cultivars to the poinsettia tradition.

These breeding programs focused on stronger stems, leaf and bract retention, multiple branching, earlier blooming, and colour variation.

Poinsettias now come in a variety of colours including red, white, pink and burgundy, and with many variations in

between including flecks of colour on contrasting backgrounds.

It was probably Paul Ecke Jr, from the bestknown US poinsettia cultivating family, who did more than anyone to give the poinsettia its Christmas fame.

Thanks to his media promotion in the 1960s, specifically on the Tonight Show and Bob Hope Christmas Specials, the poinsettia became a household name, found its way onto Christmas cards and into popular festive culture.

Choosing your poinsettia

Caring for your poinsettia

The poinsettia is very popular in Spain, and can be bought just about everywhere at Christmas.

Select plants with uniformly green foliage and no lower leaves missing.

Lighter varieties will, however, have lighter foliage.

Plants with pale green, yellow or fallen leaves may have a root disease, have been overwatered, had an excessive dry period, or received limited fertilization.

Bracts should be well developed with little pollen showing on the flowers.

Poinsettias thrive on indirect, natural daylight and require at least six hours light a day. Avoid direct sunlight, as this may fade the colour.

To prolong colour, protect from cold drafts and excessive heat. Ideal temperatures are 67F to 70F (19.5C to 21C) during the day and 60F to 62F (15.5C to 16.6C) at night. Remove damaged or diseased leaves.

Poinsettias require moderately moist soil. Check plants daily and water thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Apply water until it runs out the drainage hole. However, do not allow poinsettias to sit in standing water. Discard any collected water in the drainage receptacle.

A poinsettia does not require fertilization while it is in bloom. However, to maintain green foliage and promote new growth indoors after the holidays, apply a balanced all-purpose house plant fertilizer once per month, following directions on the fertilizer label.

The poison myth Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous if eaten. Apparently, the rumour started due to a story about an army officer's child who ate a leaf in 1919 and died soon after.

Poinsettia producers have been fighting the myth ever since.

Researchers at Ohio State University have carried out extensive tests on rats, which ate large amounts of the leaves with no adverse effects.

The American Medical Association has also stated that poinsettias are not poisonous.

With its close genetic ties to the rubber tree, which is where natural latex is derived, those who are sensitive to latex may also be sensitive to the latex from poinsettias.

Although commonly assumed to be poisonous to animals, Poinsettia plants are not harmful to household pets unless the leaves and bracts are eaten in very large quantities. Some cats that chew on the leaves may salivate and can vomit if the leaves are swallowed. It is best to keep plants out of the reach of pets.

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The Jungle Drums

December 2011

Gifts for animal lovers

Original cat artwork Local artist, Nancy Grönholm is not only a dab hand with the paintbrush, she’s also passionate about cats. She has around eight cats of her own and also cares for local wild cat colonies.

Nancy’s love of all things feline is beautifully depicted in her drawings and paintings. Choose from charming water colours like Cat Walking (left), rich oils or sketches. Nancy’s artwork will make a wonderful present for any cat lover. Buy Nancy’s work at www.etsy.com/shop/thoseparasoldays or email nancygronholm@hotmail.com or phone 644 475 031 for local viewings and sales.

Pet Photography Now! Paul Walker A perfect present for photography and animal enthusiasts, this book will help you get the best from animal subjects – whether they come wrapped in fur, feather or scales.

Practical advice on locations, viewpoints and posing. Plus hints on getting your subject to behave for the camera. £10.49 from amazon.co.uk

March of the Autumn Spiders Barbara Perez, with illustrations by Julie Cannon Spiders are not everybody’s favourite animal, but read this charming book and you might just change your mind about these crawliest of creepies.

Petrified of spiders herself, the author decided to face her fears by seeing spiders in a different way. The result is this lovely book full of endearing spider characters. Although written for children, it has proved a hit with spider lovers and haters from eight to 80. £6.99 from amazon.co.uk

Adopt an animal with the WWF Help save an endangered species by adopting an animal from the World Wildlife Fund as a gift for the animal lover in your life. Adoptions include a soft toy and updates about your adopted species three times a year. Adoptions can be bought at www.wwf.es or www.wwf.org.uk. They start from just £3 a month on the UK website or a one-off payment of €39 on the Spanish website. Your adoption money goes toward conservation work to help safeguard at risk animal species.

TOP TIPS FOR WINTER DOG CARE • Don’t leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time.

• Place a towel or old blanket under your dog basket if on a tiled floor.

• Grooming is essential to keep your dog’s coat properly insulated.

• Consider a dog sweater or coat for small dogs.

•Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet in the rain.

•Dogs need as much water in winter as they do in the summer.

• Worming must be done every three

months, even in the winter.

• Keep breakable decorations, such as baubles, out of the reach of dogs. If these shatter the sharp shards can injure pets.

• Holly and mistletoe are poisonous so keep them in places your pets can’t reach.

• Treat your dog to a little something this Christmas - a chewy bar, a new basket, a toy, because dogs believe in Santa, too.

SUPPLIED BY PET CARE, BENIJOFAR

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I want a pony for Christmas A pony is at the top of many youngsters’ Christmas lists. We spoke to local stable owner Sarah Gibbons to find out what to do if your child wants a horse…

Owning a pony can be wonderfully rewarding, give your child a healthy outdoors hobby and teach them responsibility. But, it is also expensive and a very long-term commitment so should never be entered into lightly.

Before allowing Santa to make your child’s horsey dreams come true, Sarah recommends you ask yourself two main questions.

Can I afford a horse? And, does my child really want a horse?

“Buying a horse doesn’t have to cost a lot,” says Sarah. “Especially now, with people struggling to afford to keep their horses, they can be picked up cheaply. But the cost of buying the horse is only the beginning.”

With stabling, food, vet bills and farriers fees, Sarah estimates it costs a minimum of 200 euros a month to keep a horse, and this could soar if your horse needs special food or extra veterinary care. Then there is the cost of the tack, cost of lessons if your child doesn’t already know how to ride, and insurance. The money just keeps mounting.

If you decide you can afford a horse for your child, you need to ask the second ques-

Sarah’s daughter Billie’s horse mad

tion – does my child really want a horse?

Little John or Jane may be pestering the life out of you now for a pony of their own, but have they shown a real commitment to owning a horse? Do they know what is involved?

Will they still be interested by next Christmas? A horse is not a bike that can be unwrapped and played with on Christmas morning and then put away and left to rust in the shed on Boxing Day. “You can tell the kids who have a real and lasting passion,” says Sarah. “They are horse mad; talk about horses, read books about horses, watch films about horses, pretend to be horses and pester their parents for riding lessons.”

Sarah was herself one of these kids, and when she was only eight years old would travel two hours on a bus every week from her home in Essex to a city farm in East London just so she could be around horses.

Even if she couldn’t afford riding lessons, she would help with mucking out and grooming to spend time with the animals she loved.

When Billy, her favourite horse at the farm, was to be put down because he was too old to be used for lessons, Sarah went home crying and begged her mum to let her have Billy. Her mum agreed but Sarah had to work for Billy’s keep and buy all his food herself.

Would your child be prepared to do this? If not, perhaps they are not ready for a horse.

Sarah’s passion for horses has never waned and that’s how it has to be as horses are a long-term commitment, easily living into their late 20s or 30s.

A good alternative to buying a pony for your child is to lease one from a local yard. A lease allows you to experience owning a horse without the commitment and for less expense.

Palms Equestrian has a lease scheme that allows you to lease a horse for 165 euros a month. For this, it is as if the horse is your own. You can go to the stables as often as you like, ride the horse and be as involved as you wish in its daily care. Cheaper, part-loan schemes are also available at Palms.

If your child has no real experience of horses, start with riding lessons and pony club activities. Palms Equestrian has an experienced instructor and can teach children from as young as four. In the summer they have a children’s summer club.

For more information on loans, lessons and hacks call Sarah on 636 311 751 or email palmsequestrian @live.co.uk. Visit Palms’ website Sarah on Billy w w w . p a l m s equestrian.com

email: office@thejungledrums.es

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December 2011

Marketing Christmas Get into the spirit of Christmas with a visit to some of Spain’s best Christmas markets. They may not be as famous as the seasonal markets of Germany, Hungary and other northern European countries, and you’ll have to swap the Glühwein and bratwurst for churros and chocolate, but Spain’s Christmas markets are not short on seasonal cheer and are the best places to find original presents, decorations and all things Christmassy.

Here are a few of Spain’s biggest and best Christmas markets.

Madrid Madrid celebrates the festive season in style, with lights across the city transforming the capital into a Christmas wonderland. Little markets spring up everywhere selling Christmas decorations, gifts, food and knick-knacks.

But without doubt, the best of the Christmas markets can be found at Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s biggest square. Plaza Mayor dates back to the sixteenth century and is a stunning location for the market.

The market itself dates back to 1860.

More than 100 stalls line the square to sell all sorts of Christmasrelated goods, including Christmas trees, decorations and figures for the belén (nativity scene).

Children’s City Not a market but worth a visit if you are going to Madrid with children at Christmas, is the Children’s City (Ciudad de los Niños).

Every December the Plaza de Colón hosts theatre, storytelling and dance performances for children.

as poo log. Caga tiós are an important part of the traditional Catalonian Christmas.

The logs have a friendly face and are dressed in red. Children will care for the log in the lead up to Christmas Eve, keeping it warm and offering it food. Then, on Christmas Eve, the log will poo out lots of treats and presents for the kiddies.

You will also find an abundance of caganers in this market, the pooing man that is placed in Spanish nativity scenes.

A section of the market known as Artesania sells various hand-made and artisan products such as jewellery, toys, leather goods and ornaments.

The market opens on December 13th and runs until Christmas Eve in the Plaza de la Catedral and spreads onto the Placa Nova.

Granada Granada’s Christmas market is located on the central square of Bib-Rambla, just around the corner from the Renaissance Cathedral.

Here you will find candles, flowers, all types of handmade gifts and sweets, plus Christmas decorations.

It’s cold in Granada at Christmas so warm up on the best churros and chocolate in the city from the cafés around the square that specialise in these traditional warming treats.

Granada, like so many other places in Spain, loves its nativity scenes at Christmas. You will find these all over the city, with some even including live actors and animals.

Seville This two thousand year old city with cathedrals dating back to the fifteenth century has a long Christian history, so perhaps it’s no surprise that Christmas in the capital of Andalucía is a big event.

Streets and plazas sparkle magically with Christmas lights, chestnuts are roasted on almost every corner, singers fill the city with the sound of villancicos, or Christmas songs, and nativity scenes (belénes) are everywhere.

In fact, the belén is such a big tradition in Seville that it has its very own Christmas market dedicated to the sale of everything needed to create the nativity scene. From mid-November until a few days before Christmas, all the most famous sellers of belén figures and scenery set up stalls in the Archivo de Indias. Figures range from the serious to whimsical and from a few euros to hundreds of euros - this is a serious business! Christmas ornaments, cards and other decorations are available as well.

Anyone looking for original Christmas gifts should head to the Mercado de Aresanía in Plaza Nueva.

From mid-December until early January, local artisans and craftsmen display their goods. Here you can find paintings, pottery, jewellery and lots of uniquely Spanish and Sevillian gifts.

Barcelona Barcelona’s Fir de Santa Llúcia Christmas market is the city’s best known and most traditional Christmas market.

Even if you don’t want to shop, this is the place to go for Christmas atmosphere – especially at night when the lights of the market glisten against the backdrop of the impressive Cathedral.

You’ll find loads of stalls selling Christmas trees, decorations and mistletoe.

This is also the place to buy your caga tió, which translates

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December 2011

Sierra Nevada Situated just outside Granada, Europe’s most southerly ski resort allows a wonderful mix of skiing and culture...

Looking for a snow fix this winter? Then you need head no further than the Sierra Nevada, around half a day’s drive from the Costa Blanca.

Europe’s most southerly ski resort is just outside the historic city of Granada and it’s perfectly possible to ski by day and enjoy the culture, restaurants, bars and nightlife of the city by night.

You can stay in the resort itself but with Granada so close, there really is no point. And while Granada is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, its ski resort is one of the uglier ski villages – so just go there for the snow and head back down the slopes for your après ski.

It only takes around 40 minutes to drive the winding mountain roads from the city to the ski resort, and if you don’t have your own transport there are plenty of buses.

The ski resort usually opens around December 1, depending on snow conditions, and the season can last until Easter. In 2010 the snow held up until May with some amazing snow dumps late on. Snow machines help extend the season when there is not enough snowfall.

Visiting Granada during the ski season is perfect, too, as you get to see the city when it’s far quieter than in the peak summer months, and room rates, even at the grandest historic hotels, come right down.

There’s lots of good skiing here, if few off-piste challenges for real experts.

There are more than 100km of slopes and the top lift rises to an impressive 3,300 metres. The best runs are hidden away in the secluded Laguna bowl.

In total there are 79 pistes in different parts of the resort: of these 4 are black (very difficult), 34 are red (difficult), 33 are blue (easy) and eight are green (very easy).

The Sierra Nevada is fantastic for beginners with wide motorway runs and several ski schools that rank among the best in Europe.

The mountains have a very different feel to the Alps. Instead of looking up to jagged peaks high above, when skiing in the Sierra Nevada you are on top of the highest mountain for hundreds of miles. From the top lift views extend to the olive groves of Cazorla in the north, Granada to the west and Almerías fruit farms and the distant sparkle of the Mediterranean to the south. From the highest run, the Águila red run, you can see all the way across to the Riff mountains in Morocco on a clear day.

It is usually a lot warmer than in the Alps, too. Skiers enjoying the feel of the sun beating down on them often marvel at how the snow doesn’t melt.

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Whilst the bars at the bottom of the pistes cannot compete with the bars of Granada, they do have pleasant terraces facing the sun where you can sit and soak up a few rays over a drink and a bite to eat.

On Saturdays if you hang around in the bars a little longer you can head back onto the slopes for floodlit skiing between 7pm and 9pm.

You can hire everything you need in the resort, including clothes if you’re not too worried about style. It’s around 30 to 35 euros a day for a ski pass, depending on the season, and gets cheaper the more consecutive days you buy for. Ski and boot hire is about the same. There are discounts for children, disabled skiers and senior citizens. Non-skiers can buy a return ticket in the cable car if they want to join you for lunch or just go up to see the view.

Snowboarding has also become very popular in the resort, which is aiming to host the World Snowboard and Freestyle Championships in 2017. An important step to gaining this event takes place in March next year when the resort hosts the Junior World Snowboard Championships.

Young competitors will be the first to use the resorts latest facility, a new half pipe – freestyle and snowboard circuit.

If you fancy a break from skiing and snowboarding, take a ride on a sledge pulled by a team of huskies. The ride lasts about 30 minutes and costs 45 euros per person.

Or, you can have fun tobogganing. Rent a simple plastic sledge from one of the small shops or hire a more sophisticated inflatable toboggan for around 15 euros for 30 minutes.

There’s ice skating, too, at six euros an hour including skates at the resorts open-air rink.

In the summer The Sierra Nevada is not just for winter. In the summer this natural park enjoys lovely temperatures of around 20 degrees - just right for enjoying walking, horse riding and cycling holidays. The scenery is simply stunning in the summer with natural lakes and lush vegetation.

The calendar of summer events includes cycling races such as the Sierra Nevada Límite, fell running and even a triathlon.

Sierra Nevada: the sky's the limit, a series of open air concerts given by groups of all styles, is a great way to spend a summer evening in the Sierra Nevada.

Getting there The Sierra Nevada ski station is 32 kilometers from Granada city.

It is found on the A-395 at km 31 and is easily accessible by car, although you sometimes need snow chains.

Buses run from Granada city.

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December 2011

Saab 9-4X

Whilst the the SUV/ Crossover market is ever growing and every other manufacturer is moving into this area the Swedish maker SAAB has decided they also want a piece.

Let us introduce the all new Saab 9-4X, which was officially introduced to Europe earlier this year.

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“The Saab 9-4X significantly broadens the appeal of the Saab brand,” says Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. “It gives us entry to the fast-growing crossover segment with a vehicle that reflects our brand values in key areas, such as progressive Scandinavian design and sporty, responsible driving performance. The Saab 9-4X is an exciting package and we’re confident it will appeal to many existing Saab owners, as well as win new customers for the brand.”

With distinctive Scandinavian and aircraft-inspired looks, it also offers car-like handling and a sporty drive.

The 9-4X is aligned in looks and sized between the 9-3X all-rounder and new 9-5 sedan. Outside and inside, it communicates its Saab identity with clean, uncluttered design and signature motifs, such as its wraparound-effect windshield, ice block lighting theme, driver-focused cockpit and flexible cargo handling.

In true Saab tradition, the 9-4X delivers on its sporty persona. It is configured around a unique, purpose-designed crossover body structure, which has been key to delivering its exceptional handling and ride properties. Car-like driving dynamics are supported by Saab’s advanced all-wheel-drive system, Saab XWD, and DriveSense adaptive chassis control.

Under the bonnet nestles a choice of compact and efficient V6 engines, naturally-aspirated or turbocharged. The 265bhp, 3.0ltr engine for the entry-level model features direct fuel injection and variable valve timing; whilst the 300bhp, 2.8ltr exchanges direct injection for twin-scroll turbocharging and is exclusive to top-of-line Aero variants. Both engines are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions.

This quality will not come cheap though expect to pay around 50.000€ for the 3.0 V6 XWD and 60.000€ for the 2.8T V6 XWD Aero.

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December 2011 BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services company on the Costa Blanca. We aim to provide high quality computer services at realistic prices - we specialise in providing services to small businesses and home users

For all your home and business computer needs

Welcome to this month’s computer article written by Richard from BlueMoon Solutions Kindle Month 2. This month we continue to look at Amazons book reader, the Kindle. Last month we looked at how you might use additional software to get the best out of the Kindle, and this month we continue in the same vein, covering some of the less well-known features of this great little device.

One thing that Kindle users complain about is that it comes without any companion software. There is, however some thirdparty software that fills this gap. The best appears to be ‘Calibre’ which is marketed as the ‘one stop solution to all your ebook needs’ and it provides the Kindle with a feature-rich and more importantly FREE ebook management application.

Not only does Calibre allow you to search through and create a library of your books (for example it’s easy to see all of the books you have by a specific author), it enables you to automatically fetch news from websites or RSS feeds (these are automatically downloaded information feeds - the BBC has one for example).

Calibre also lets you format the news into an ebook and upload it to your Kindle so for example, it would enable you to download a daily copy of the Guardian onto your Kindle.

If you would like to know more then there are loads of tutorial videos on the Calibre website at http://calibre-ebook.com Another thing that many people are unaware of is that you can take screen shots with your Kindle. A screen shot is simply a photograph of whatever you have on the screen at the time you take it. To do this just press ALT + Shift + G together, the

Contact Us

screen will flash momentarily and a copy of the screen will be saved to your Kindle’s memory.

To retrieve the screen shots, browse the Kindle’s ‘documents’ folder where you will find all of your books together with the screenshots.

There are some games that you can play on your Kindle!

The game that it comes with is called Minesweeper and you activate it by holding down ALT + Shift + M. The controls are shown at the start of the game, but the idea is to guess where all the mines are.

Whilst in Minesweeper you can launch another game called GoMoku, which is a version of tick-tak-toe. If you want to launch this game, then just press the letter G whilst in Minesweeper.

There are a few other games that you can download for free from Amazon, ‘Shuffled’ and ‘Every Word’ are both word games but highly addictive according to my customers!

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There is a growing community of Kindle users on the Internet so if you want to find out any more information about what you can do with yours, just Google it. I found a lot of useful information at the website http://maketecheasier.com/tips-and-tricksfor-your-shiney-new-Kindle/2010/09/16 and another good site for more information is http://kindlestuff.wordpress.com This is a great resource for Kindle users! It describes how to do things like, how to play background audio whilst reading a book, and how to lend other people the books you have bought for your Kindle.

Finally for those of you that have not yet bought a Kindle but are thinking about it, it may be worth holding off for a bit. The new Kindle Fire was launched in the USA in November and, although we are still waiting for a launch date here in Europe, it is expected to be soon. It is said to be a great piece of kit – the screen is in full colour for a start, vastly improving the experience of reading magazines, and if that isn´t enough, it will also allow you to play films and TV shows, download music and give you access to Amazon´s massive list of I hope you have found this article over 18 useful, remember that you can million see all of our articles at films! www.bluemoonsolutions.es/articles

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December 2011

Letters to Stephanie When her first grandchild was born, local author Barbara Perez felt a desire to pass on all the family stories to the new arrival. Only one problem – she didn’t know them, and so began a quest to find out more about her family history. She shared her story with us in the hope it may inspire JD readers to do the same…

Stephanie was just three minutes old when she was placed into my arms, and as I looked down into that tiny face for the first time I instantly felt an amazingly powerful connection with this brand new life. But I knew the connection was more than just me – it went through my daughter Tracy,

Barbara with Stephanie Stephanie’s mum, and back to my Baby mum, her mum and everyone who came before.

Stephanie I felt then that I wanted to tell Stephanie all about her family history as she grew up, so she could see where she came from, who she took after, why she might choose a certain direction in her life.

Back home at 2am on the night of Stephanie’s birth, I was far too excited to sleep and so wrote Stephanie a letter containing all the details of her birth and her family as I knew it.

I also promised to research our family history and to record my journey in subsequent letters to her as she was growing up.

Stephanie is now 22 and I have written around 40 ‘Letters to Stephanie’.

It has been a fascinating journey. I remain as close to Stephanie today as I was on the day of her birth, but thanks to her, and the letters I have written, I now have a bond that stretches back in time, and Stephanie does, too.

Like most people, I had details of my parents and grandparents but previous to that, dates and names became hazy. I decided to concentrate on my maternal grandmother’s branch of the family.

‘I know my Gran’s name was Jessie

Goldfinch,’ I said to my mother, (then already in her 80s). ‘But what was your Gran’s name?’

‘Eykelbosch.’

‘Great name to research,’ I said. ‘And her first name?’

‘Gran!’

‘No Mum – I mean her Christian name.’

‘We never used it – not in those days.’

‘But what did your grandfather call her?’

‘Mother! Ask mother he’d say.’

So…….this was not going to be easy. But two weeks later during a visit to my mother, she called to me from the bedroom.

‘Elizabeth!’

‘No Mum – it’s Barbara!’

‘It’s Elizabeth!’ she repeated.

I sat in the chair beside her bed. ‘Mum! Ray, Connie, Barbara and John – your four children - and I’m Barbara!’

‘No!’ she insisted. ‘Your great grandmother was called Elizabeth!’

Eureka! I had the first piece of my Eykelbosch jigsaw!

Then there was no stopping Barbara’s my mother.

‘They lived in North London mum, Minnie near the Angel. He was a cabman – with horses in those days…..I can’t remember his name. They had about five or six children and your grandmother Jessie was one of them. Then there was an Ada, a William…and I can’t remember the rest...oh yes, a Minnie because I was named after her…and a Kate…and Alf. Will that do for now?’

I reached for some paper and a pen and jotted down the details. So began the research in earnest. My mother, spurred on by my excitement, delved into her handbag and removed a sepia photograph of a good-looking young man in a trilby hat.

‘That’s my brother Teddy – the only boy in a family of ten girls. You won’t remember him because he died just before you were born. He was killed by the blast of a bomb during the blitz on Bristol in 1940, just a few days before his eighteenth birthday. It broke Teddy, mother’s heart! There – take it! It can Barbara’s uncle be your first family story.’

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Six months later, on a touring holiday in the USA, I went to Salt Lake City to visit the Mormon Family History Library, the largest genealogical library in the world. The majority of their records contain information about people who lived before 1920 – records from more than 100 countries.

Five floors below ground level are the records for the UK. I fed the scant details I had regarding the Eykelbosch name into the computer and was thrilled when an address came up in North London for Elizabeth, along with her husband’s name - William. I was able to recognise it by the names of some of their children that my mother had given me. Now I was back in the 1800s. My jigsaw was growing.

Today, with internet, it isn’t necessary to travel to Salt Lake City for information. For a small fee, there are companies that will do the leg work for you or you can do a lot of the research yourself online even cheaper.

On my return to the UK, I met up with my brother and we continued the search together. I collected and wrote the stories and he, a retired police detective inspector, continued the document search. The information we had was enough to use as a springboard for more.

It has taken us 21 years to date but we have now traced the Eykelbosch ancestors back to the 17th century when James Eykelbosch travelled to England with William of Orange from Holland as boot maker to the would-be king’s Dutch army.

Hannah On the paternal side of my mother’s Christmas family, we have traced the Goldfinch branch back to the 15th century. Most of the difficult research work has been done by my brother for whom it has become a hobby.

He has searched the internet, written letters, bought copy upon copy of

birth, death and marriage certificates and visited record offices, churches, gravestones and interested distant relatives. One such distant relative sent him a copy of a photograph of our three times great grandmother Hannah Christmas who was born in the late 1700s. Seeing that image was a great thrill.

In 1998, we organised an Eykelbosch family reunion in Covent Garden, London, near the churches where James, newly arrived from Holland, married Gertrude Quatermain in the 17th century. I say churches because they were married twice that day – once in the Catholic Church (for her) and once in the Protestant (for him).

Our reunion celebrating the anniversary of their union was a huge success attended by more than a hundred Eykelbosch relations from all over the world. We had all descended from James and Gertrude.

Stephanie was there with her younger sister Hannah. There are now six grandchildren to add to my family tree – it is a wonderful neverending story.

Barbara Perez, MBE, has published two books, The Gypsy and the State and The March of the Autumn Spiders.

Stephanie, left, with sister Hannah and cousin Michael

How to build your own family tree Researching your ancestry might seem like a daunting task – but if you think of it like a jigsaw and take it a piece at a time, you’ll be surprised at how it can all come together.

Just like with a jigsaw, you start with the easiest pieces – the corners and outside edges. In genealogy terms, the outside pieces and corners are you, your parents and grandparents, and any other relatives whose details you already know.

We all have some data, even if it is just our own birth certificate. This alone gives you five pieces of the jigsaw – name, date of birth, name of one or two parents, their occupation, and country of birth.

Your family tree will already begin to look like this;

Census records

John Bloggs (father) b. 13.04 1909 Naval Officer

Other records

Matilda Bloggs (mother) b.10.12. 1910 Children’s Nurse

I Mary Bloggs born 18.03.42 Bristol UK

At this stage it is advisable to research one parent at a time. Choose the one you know more about. Which set of grandparents are you more familiar with and are more likely to get data from?

You can go to a professional genealogist with this information and pay them do the legwork. Or you can continue to research your family tree yourself.

Researching your ancestry yourself is much easier than it used to be as so much information is now available on the internet. A good place to start if you come from the UK is www.ancestry.co.uk This website allows you to access all the main sources of information for tracing your ancestry, including:

Censuses are perhaps the most important genealogy records — and ancestry.co.uk has a comprehensive online collection. Move back through the generations with details such as addresses, ages and occupations. As censuses are released after 100 years, the 1911 census is the most recent available.

Birth, marriage and death indexes At ancestry.co.uk you will find birth, marriage and death indexes from 1837 to 2005. Discover where and when each event happened, then order full certificates for further information.

Trace the war heroes in your family with millions of military records.

Immigration records, parish records, criminal records, the National Probate Calendar and more than six billion other records from all over the world can also be accessed at this site.

You can start your search on ancestry.co.uk with a free trial. After that time, subscriptions range from £6.95 to £18.95 depending on the level of access you require.

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December 2011

Monthly Caption Competition Sponsored by

Can you think of a witty caption to go with this picture?

For a chance to win a 10€ voucher to spend on Christmas items in News Express, send your ideas to office@thejungledrums.es or call 966 923 796

Last month’s winner:

Darren Holme Benijofar

“I’m sure I left my bone around here somewhere!”

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December 2011 The story of why the angel is on top of the tree

Three Signs of Christmas

Not long ago, and not far away, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip...but there were problems every where... four of the elves got sick and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones. Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs Claus told Santa that her mum was coming to visit...

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.

This stressed Santa even more...when he went to harness the reindeer he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out heaven knows where...more stress.

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. “It represents a candle”, he said.

“In honor of this holy season' Saint Peter said, 'You must each possess something that symbolises Christmas to get into heaven.”

“You may pass through the pearly gates” Saint Peter said.

And then, when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards on the sleigh cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered all the toys... So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. But he found that the elves had hit the drinks cupboard and there was nothing there to drink. In his frustration he dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, “They're bells.”

Saint Peter said, “You may pass through the pearly gates.”

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties.

Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. And the angel said: “Santa, where would you like to put this Christmas tree?”

And that, my friend, is how the little angel came to be on top of the Christmas tree...

Saint Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, “And just what do those symbolise?”

The man replied, “These are Carols.”

A new bike

Sam went to his room and wrote 'Dear Jesus, I have been a very good boy and would like to have a bike for Christmas.' But he wasn't very happy when he read it over. So he decided to try again and this time he wrote 'Dear Jesus, I'm a good boy most of the time and would like a bike for Christmas.' He read it back and wasn't happy with that one either. He tried a third version. 'Dear Jesus, I could be a good boy if I tried hard and especially if I had a new bike.' He read that one too, but he still wasn't satisfied.

So, he decided to go out for a walk while he thought about a better approach. After a short time he passed a house with a small statue of the Virgin Mary in the front garden. He crept in, stuffed the statue under his coat, hurried home and hid it under the bed. Then he wrote this letter. 'Dear Jesus, if you want to see your mother again, you'd better send me a new bike.'

Christmas Prayers

solution on page 38

It was coming up to Christmas and Sammy asked his mum if he could have a new bike. So, she told him that the best idea would be to write to Santa Claus. But Sam, having just played a vital role in the school nativity play, said he would prefer to write to the baby Jesus. So his mum told him that would be fine.

A few days before Christmas, two young brothers were spending the night at their grandparents’ house. When it was time to go to bed, anxious to do the right thing, they both knelt down to say their prayers.

Suddenly, the younger one began to do so in a very loud voice.

"Dear Lord, please ask Santa Claus to bring me a play-station, a mountain-bike and a telescope."

His older brother leaned over and nudged his brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn't deaf."

"I know" he replied, "But Grandma is!"

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December 2011

Thinking caps on for this one! Answers in next month’s edition.

Across 1 According to The Bible, which town was destroyed by fire from heaven, together with Gomorrah, for the wickedness of its inhabitants? (5) 4 What name is given to sudden involuntary muscular contractions or convulsive movements? (6) 9 What was the title of Kenny Rogers’ first UK number one hit single? (7) 10 Which city in Nebraska is the port of entry and seat of Douglas county? (5) 11 What name is usually given to the building in which members of the armed forces take their meals? (4) 12 What was the surname of the dancing partner of Ginger Rogers? (7) 13 Which thick opaque liquid is produced in infected tissue? (3) 14 What is another term for the blackthorn? (4) 16 Which loose, flowing outer garment was worn by the citizens of ancient Rome? (4) 18 Which natural or synthetic substance is used to add a colour to or change the colour of something? (3)

20 Which word means to convert waste into reusable material? (7) 21 Which woodwind instrument of treble pitch, is played with a double reed and has an incisive tone? (4) 24 Which Russian ballet company is now known as Mariinsky Ballet? (5) 25 Which extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid is used in the extraction of gold and silver? (7) 26 What is the surname of the British rock n roller who sang about a Little White Bull? (6) 27 What is the main monetary unit of the EU? (5) Down 1 What is the name of the highly seasoned Italian sausage that is usually eaten cold in slices? (6) 2 Which waterbirds have broad blunt bills, short legs, webbed feet, and waddling gaits? (5) 3 Which African country was known as French Sudan until 1958? (4) 5 In males, which gland surrounds the neck of the bladder? (8) 6 Which sport can be figure, ice or roller? (7) 7 In a conventional pack of playing cards, which of the four suits is denoted by a black inverted heart-shaped figure with a small stalk? (6) 8 What was the surname of the French Impressionist painter best known for his paintings of ballet dancers? (5) 13 What was the surname of the British prime minister who was shot dead in the lobby of the House of Commons in 1812? (8) 15 Vierwaldstättersee is the German name for which Swiss lake? (7) 17 What name is given to male ducks? (6) 18 Which word is used as a euphemism for ‘devil’ in expressions of annoyance, impatience, or surprise or for emphasis? (5) 19 What was the surname of the male half of the duo that topped British charts in 1973 with Welcome Home? (6) 22 Which form of tobacco pipe is made from woody nodules borne at ground level by a large woody plant of the heather family? (5) 23 What’s the name of the hard, typically green stone used for ornaments and implements? (4)

Solutions to last months crossword Across: 7 Oberon, 8 Palate, 10 Anemone, 11 Stern, 12 Iris, 13 Sewer, 17 Haunt, 18 Kate, 22 OJays, 23 Adam Ant, 24 Egg nog, 25 Spells.

Down: 1 Horatio, 2 Genesis, 3 Robot, 4 Banshee, 5 Hades, 6 Henna, 9 Perennial, 14 Bassoon, 15 Parable, 16 Vectis, 19 Bogey, 20 Tango, 21 Harpo.

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December 2011

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Gemini 21 May - 21 June

The lunar eclipse on the 10th is likely to cause sudden changes in travel, on the other hand this same lunar eclipse that seems so disruptive is also going to shake up your days for the next couple of weeks. Uranus goes direct in your sign on December 13th and you finally get the opportunity to speak your mind to someone who has somehow had the power to silence you for the past several months. Mars is in Aquarius right on Christmas Day which does mean you will not be spending the holiday in the traditional way that you always do.

December 8th could be a day when Murphy’s Law rules. This is thanks to the moon straying in your sign and causing confusion, delays and obstacles. This is not your best two days for travelling, having important meetings or doing any Christmas shopping. On the 11th the planet Neptune could have you wrestling with feelings of anger or disappointment. On December 13th the planet Uranus moves forward and you are going to be blessed with something you have wanted to come your way for months. The planets also indicate that you are more likely to stay in with a special someone this New Year’s watching television.

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The month does begin with a bit of wishful thinking about money.

Planets in Scorpio may lead you to believe you are richer than you are so be careful not to overspend. The big news for The Sign of Twins this month is the lunar eclipse of the Full Moon in your sign on December 10th. This is a magical influence that brings you to a point of real reflection about what direction you would like to take your life. You may also find that during this eclipse your intuition is heightened and that your creative abilities seem to be at their peak. Love planet Venus brings you the opportunity to escape with a loved one on the fifteenth and the sixteenth. Your ruling planet Mercury smiles on you this New Year’s Eve bringing you just the right mix of socializing with good friends and spending intimate moments later with a loved one.

Cancer 22 June - 22 July The first days of the month could begin with a bit of tension between you and a partner about where or how to spend the holidays this year. On the 10th an eclipse of the moon is going to have you questioning whether or not you are happy with your place in life. Be prepared for everything and anything; keep in mind that whatever does happen it is all in the name of making you a much wealthier and happier person by December 2012. Your New Years Eve promises to be a family affair. Planets in Capricorn indicate that you are more likely to host a party then go out and spend a lot of money in clubs or dressing up to go to a fancy Christmas party.

You will get a more joy from spending New Year’s at home and keeping in touch with your loved ones by instant messenger or on social networking programs like Facebook.

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Leo 23 July - 22 August Many Lions will be working through the holidays this year to keep their jobs or to try and repair debt. The lunar eclipse in Gemini on December 10th might bring changes to do with your work situation. Some Lions might receive news that they are relocating to another city in order to make more money. Many Leos will also be getting good news about a raise or a promotion towards the end of the month as well. On December 13th you will be pleasantly surprised by positive news from a family member. On December 15th be very careful not to spread gossip. Your New Year’s Eve promises to be very romantic. Thanks to good vibes from love planet Venus you might find yourself sneaking away from a big party to enjoy private moments with a special someone.

Virgo 23 August - 22 September The eclipse of the moon on the tenth is likely going to help you recognize those areas in your life that need fixing or changing.

On December 13th Uranus could bring you some surprising news that leaves you shocked and appalled. A matter that you thought was long over could raise its ugly head again and you may have no choice but to deal with it.

On December 17th a positive influence from the moon in your sign is going to help you reflect on recent troubling events with a less resentful eye.

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Libra 23 September - 23 October

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Scorpio 24 October - 21 November

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Sagittarius 22 November - 21 December

The month gets off to a bit of a shaky start financially and you might wonder how you are going to afford to pay for the holidays. The lunar eclipse on the tenth is going to change how you see a current partner in your life. This person could be a business associate or part of your romantic life. You could be quite shocked by what you hear on December 17th. It could be that an appalling rumor that you thought was just gossip is actually true. Your ruler Venus promises you a very romantic New Year’s.

Your sign can expect to spend New Year’s somewhere very glamorous where the champagne is going to flow.

The lunar eclipse on December 10th is likely going to urge you to leave a job or relationship that you feel is holding you back.

You may find yourself overwhelmed by a strong personality that is also possibly addicted to alcohol or another substance on the 11th. The 15th may offer you the chance to visit a lover or close friend who lives out of town. On the 17th the planet Uranus goes direct after moving backwards in the sky for month and brings with it the revelation of a few unpleasant secrets. As upset as you are about what you find out it is probably best not to make a big case out of what you hear or find out about someone you love.

Your key word has been “change” for the last few months and there are even more exciting developments coming your thanks to a Full Moon and lunar eclipse in Gemini on the tenth . If there is one thing this month is going to offer you it is a chance to trade in the old for the new and many Archers are going to experience a complete transformation in their lives. On the 11th you may be confronted with a big drama in your family life thanks to emotional extremes caused by Neptune. On New Year’s you will be very touched by a special gesture from a dear friend.

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Capricorn 22 December - 19 January During the first three days of this month Pluto in your sign opposes other planets. The lunar eclipse on the tenth of the month may bring you a set of circumstances that force you to be fully accountable for some of the mistakes you have made with others in the past. When planet Uranus goes direct on 13th you will feel inspired to go out and buy that new vehicle will serve to improve your life quality in general. This is a good time to shop for something that your heart really desires. Venus showers your with romantic blessings around the 15th. The Sun in your sign from the 20th onwards puts you in the mood to be the host for the holidays. Mercury in your sign on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day brings good news about money and you may decide to treat yourself. You may find yourself going into 2012 with a brand new computer, appliance or car.

Aquarius 20 January - 18 February On the first few days of December it may become apparent that you cannot afford to do a favour of some kind for a friend. You are overworked and may need to say no to something.On the tenth of December the lunar eclipse is going to help free you from a long-standing debt or continuing expense that may have been holding you back from living your life as fully as you normally would. Get ready to take a short day trip to somewhere fun on December 15th. You could be invited to a dinner in the country or to a ski chalet. Planets in Sagittarius promise that the 15th and 16th could be days to remember! Be prepared to hop from party to party on New Year’s Eve. The planets indicate glamour, glitter and flowing champagne. Single Aquarians should look their very best as they are bound to meet many new people.

Pisces 19 February - 20 March On December 2nd the moon favours your sign especially if you are thinking of making a new beginning or pitching a proposal to a higher up. Be careful not to say exactly the wrong thing when Mercury causes a fuss in your relationship sector on December 11th. It is also very important on this day to make sure that a drunk driver is not given the keys to go home or that you do not get drunk and say what is on your mind. On the thirteenth the planet Uranus could bring some demanding and irrational individuals into your life. Your New Year’s this year promises to be a quieter affair spent with just a few friends and your loved ones.

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email: office@thejungledrums.es

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Aries 21 March - 19 April

The Jungle Drums

The Jungle Drums

December 2011

Classifieds mens wear. Ideal for market traders.

Bargain price 1€ per item. Call now on 651 885 200.

Accomodation Pensión La Oficina (The Black Bull)situated on the CV951, San Miguel de Salinas. Modern air-conditioned and ensuite rooms available, 35 € per night. Call 966 842 070 for reservations.

Boats

Accountants Bogged down in paperwork? Let us simplify things for you – accountancy, taxes, payroll services and more. We cater for companies and individuals.

Established in 1984 on the Costa Blanca. Call us on 966 923 963 for your first consultation free of charge.

Alarms

Protect your home with PROSEGUR Alarm Systems. Don’t have just any alarm ringing out to no one - get connected to the professionals. Immediate connection to the police via our 24/7 control centre, with video surveillance included. Don’t wait until it´s too late. For a free quote call 966 923 963

Business Opportunites BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES EXCELLENT RECESSION PROOF BUSINESS WITH NO OVERHEADS AND ALL CASH. 5 COLD DRINK VENDING MACHINES €24,900. 25 PRINGLE MACHINES €14,900, ALL WITH GUARANTEED SITES. 619 307 318.

Bar for sale. Quesada area. Going cheap. For information pack, email: .

Tel: 688 800 960 Brand new clothing for Sale. 10,000 pieces of mixed childrens, ladies and

BOATING LICENSES ARE NOW A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN SPAIN Serenity Sailing RYA Training Centre, Competent Crew to Yachtmaster, VHF & ICC Own boat tuition on sail and power. If you have a yacht or powerboat get qualified and certified Contact Richard 0034 638 056 224 enquiries@serenitysailing.com/www.s erenitysailing.com

Church Services

International Christian Assembly. Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja. Evangelical non-denominational. Sunday services 11:00am. Children’s Church 11:00am. House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier. Ladies meeting Thursdays 11:00am. Pastor, Rafael Restrepo. All nationalities welcome 966 799 273 // 660 127 276.

Pilar Christian Community Church Calle Canalejas 3. Pilar de la Horadada. Sunday Service at 11am, and Thursday at 5pm for Bible study and Prayer. Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information contact Pilar ChristianCommunity Church@gmail.com or contact Reverend Eddie on 966 7693 00 or 650 509 606. Reg No:2009-SG/A

Cars for Sale

Tata 4 x 2 2 litre TD EX 7 seater 2002, 86,000 km, fully serviced, alloys, aircon, bullbar side steps, CD etc, silver 3.450 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars .com Nissan Micra Cabriolet 1.4 90bhp

2006, 2 owners 84,000km, FSH, stunning car with solid power roof finished in metallic burnt orange, alloys, aircon, blue tooth etc etc 7450 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars .com Mercedes! Mercedes! good selection of Mercedes over 10 different models in stock new and used vehicles sourced Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwr eurocars.com Hyundai Atos 1.0 litre gls 5 dr, 2000 model, 73,000 kms, full service history, air con 2250 euros tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars .com Renault Kango van right hand drive 1.9 diesel nov 2000 long mot & tax 895 euros tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 Ford Focus Est 1.6 Vetec 9th month 2001, Black, Alloys, A/C, 3950 euros Tel 600726221 - 965687967 www.fwreurocars.com Renault Cleo 2000 model 1.25 5 door, white, fully serviced 2950 euros Tel 600726221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars.com Nissan Almera 1.6gx 1998, A/C CD etc, matt burgundy 1200 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars.com Opal Astra 1.4, 4 door saloon, 895 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars.com Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6 RHD SPANISH REG, 1997 5 door hatch 1500 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwrceurocars.com RHD Pegeot 406 LX 2 LITRE HDI 12th month 2001, 76,000 miles MOT, TAXED, Met Burgundy 1650 EUROS Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars.com

For Sale Climbing frame with slide, fireman`s pole, climbing net ,etc ...900€ Double Swing...100€ ph 966 789 728 or 606 797 371 or email maria_cawley @hotmail.com

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The Jungle Drums - Tel: 966 923 796

December 2011

The Jungle Drums

To advertise here please telephone 966 727 334 or 626 397 397 or email advertising@thejungledrums.es

Property For Rent Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TipTop Villa Care, for all your property needs. www.tiptopvillacare.com e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.com Tel 667848582 (39) FORMENTERA de la SEGURA. 2 bedroom apartment 350€/mth* Near to town, Pool. Linda 667848582 (39) PROPERTY FOR RENT Ref: 49, 2nd floor one bedroom apartment situated conveniently located in the town centre of Torrevieja, with a small sun balcony overlooking the lovely communal pool. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 112, Spacious 3 bedroom detached villa with its private pool is located on the El Raso urbanisation near Guardamar. Convenient for all amenities, shops, supermarket, restaurants and bars. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 63, Two bedroom 1st floor apartment situated in Monino Blanco. The property overlooks a superb communal pool area, in within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops.

Short or long term rental available.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 155, Luxurious Three Bedroom Villa With Private Pool, in Quesada Close to shops and restaurants within a five minute drive, and Guadamar Beach is within a ten minute drive.

Long term rental €800PCM, Short term available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach. There is a terrace outside with views to the sea.

Short or long term rental available.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 708, A lovely two bedroom, one bathroom corner ground floor apartment in Algorfa, with a spacious patio & Residents off road parking. Communal pool near by. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 70, Superb 3 bedroom detached villa set on a large plot in San Luis.

The Property is close to the Habaneras Shopping Centre, Aquapark and other amenities. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 117, A Lovely 3 Bedroomed 1st floor apartment on the outskirts of Torrevieja (Mar Azul). The Apartment is in walking distance of the excellent beaches and a good selection of restaurants, shops and bars. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 33, A lovely large 2 bedroom, ground floor apartment within walking distance to the beach. Large lounge, 1 double bedroom and 1 twin bedroom on a gated community. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 61, A lovely two bedroomed groundfloor apartment, located in the centre of the small Spanish town of Los Montesinos, With a pleasant communal swimming pool adjacent & all amenities in walking distance. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 516, Well situated studio apartment in San Luis. The property has a balcony which has been glazed to create another room. Close to all shops and amenities, on a local bus route & 10 minutes from the beach.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 La Finca. 2 bed, 3 bath townhouse.

Long let. Fully furnished. Air con.

Lovely location. Gated community.

NO PETS. T.V. Views. Communal pool, Solarium, Contracts. €450 month. 690 731 160 Luxury appartments, 2/3 bedrooms in San Miguel De Salinas. Floor heating, Elevator, Roof terrace with swimmingpool, from 385 euros/month Also holiday rentals and appartments in San

Miguel de Salinas from 350 euros/month. 966 723 437 and 616 487 493 110,000€ PRICED TO SELL.

Property For Sale SANTIAGO de la RIBERA. 3 bedroom 2 bathroom Villa 1km from beach 5 minutes from Dos Mares Shopping Centre. Linda 667848582 (39) Gran Alacant, corner semi detached 3 bedroomed, 2 bathrooms, large garden, enclosed terrace, fully furnished, private drive for 2 cars, on gated desirable urbanisation Monte Faro, many facilities priced for quick sale 185,000 Tel 680 333 242 Balsares, terraced 4 bedroomed house, 3 bathrooms, large underbuild, private underground parking direct to house, small gated urbanisation, directly over looking proposed new golf course opposite Gran Alacant, priced for quick sale at original off plan price 195.000 Tel 680 333 242 Gran Alacant, 3 bedroomed, 3 bath mid terraced Altomar 1, views of Alicante Bay, close to communal pool, walking distance to bars and resturants opportunity at reduced price 125,000 Tel 680 333 242 Gran Alacant, front line, 2 bed, 1 bath, downstairs toilet, fully furnished, roof terrace, walking distance to beaches, large communal and resturants, beach front property priced for quick sale 125,000 Tel 680 333 242 Viva Villa and Vacation Services are pleased to offer property sales for the Torrevieja and Oriheula areas of the Costa Blanca, Spain. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 or Visit : www.villaandvacation.com Ref: 513, €115,000. Two bedroom ground floor apartment, in Aguas Nuevas, close to all amenities including the beach. It has a good size lounge, kitchen and has off road parking facilities. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

email: office@thejungledrums.es

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The Jungle Drums

December 2011

Classifieds To advertise here please telephone 966 923796 or email advertising@thejungledrums.es

Ref: 521, €105,000. This comfortable bungalow is located in San Luis with a new roof and solarium tiles. It is close to supermarkets, bars, restaurants and is on the local bus route. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 520, €85,000. Two bedroom apartment in Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed-in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large communal swimming pool. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 516, €39,999. Studio apartment in San Luis, close to amenities. Open plan fully equipped kitchen. Good sized lounge, bedroom and out onto balcony which has been glazed to create another room. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 510, €79,999. Bungalow located in San Luis. It is close to the supermarkets, bars and restaurants and is on the local bus route. An Opel Corsa car is included in this sale. mCall: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: KP3100, €198,000. Three bedroom, two bathroom detached villa, located in San Luis, on a 450sqm plot,

with communal pool. Garage to side of house. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 30, €119,000. Two bedroom detached house with large front terrace.

This villa is in the Punta Marina area close to Playa Flamenca , Close to amenities. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 78, €120,000. Three bedroom Quad in Jardin Del Mar VII. There is off-road parking and small storage shed in the enclosed garden area, communal pool nearby. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, €60,000 A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach. There is a terrace outside with views to the sea.

Short or long term rental available.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 526, €39.950. A lovely bright 1 bedroom apartment in the area of Torreblanca.There is a large communal pool and well maintained gardens, with tennis courts and childrens play area. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

Solicitors Need English Speaking Solicitors in Torrevieja? Let us help to solve your problems with debt recovery, divorce, property, accident claims, legalise land. Call us on 966 923 963, give us brief details and get in touch with your specialist solicitor.

Situations Vacant

Outgoing friendly sales staff wanted for exciting new venture in Torrevieja and surrounding areas. No experience necessary as full training given, although face to face sales experience an advantage. Phone Sue on 606 024 743 for more details (32)

Wanted

A private buyer looking to buy a cheap car directly from the owner (middleman please do not call)Tel 638 811 881(35)

solution to Sudoko on page 33

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The Jungle Drums - Tel: 966 923 796

December 2011

The Jungle Drums

email: oďŹƒce@thejungledrums.es

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